I'd like to have a play in person before I make my mind up.... if I was going to move away from the iPhone it would be for something running Maemo at the moment and after my Windows mobile 5 experience I'm not that keen on returning to them for my mobile needs...

I just wonder if the app market can take off. Google Android is totally open source, and yet isnt seeing the same apps as chargeable apple?! So god knows how winmo 7 will fare!I've found winmo 6 was ok to use. but people who are crap with pc's have no hope!

Just because the base is open source doesn't mean the apps have to be, just been putting in a high performance Linux cluster and the software for it is well into five figures.

As for Windows Mobile, Microsoft seem to have made the same mistake as with IE6 letting it stagnate while competitors strengthened and taken a foothold in their market. Android looks well set to take the floor out from under WM as it has the multiplatform support that was WM's previous strength.

There doesn't seem to be much that WM7 offers really although I like the idea of having hardware requirements/versions - there's clearly a large variance in performance from the ARM11 powered smartphones up to the dual Cortex A9 Tegra 2's which is going to mean a difference in performance. Android seems to be getting a bit fragmented and it's difficult to follow what you're actually getting, the Milestone is going to be running the same version of Android as the Nexus One but it doesn't support all the features.

I'm surprised to see SE releasing a WM7 handset unless it's a straightforward HTC rebrand as they're currently supporting S60/Symbian and Android already.

John

We are outnumbered by enemy titans, recommend aggressive sustained counterfire

[sarcasm]But its has to do well they have got full Xbox Live Achievement integration, why choose between work and achievement whoring when you can achievement whore at work![/sarcasm]

I think it actually looks quiet nice but its success really depends on how usable it is and how well it integrates with your life.

Not sure if I have missed it but have they detailed the amount of customisation it will have available? That's one of things I love about Android, and on the surface a reason I would consider Maemo, so would be interesting to know if they have taken the open path or copied Apple.

Think they are taking more of the Apple route by limiting OEM customisation from what I've read. Not sure how much the user can customise but with a hardware button to the Bing search engine (sure I read that somewhere) looks like MS will be dictating what can and can't be done.

Found this: Included in that list is a new UI which is rumored to be very similar to the Zune HD interface, no Flash support, no ability to install an app via storage card, no multitask support–apps will pause in the background and offer notifications, no backwards compatibility, full Zune integration, Zune Desktop software as the interface for syncing with PC, no OEM interfaces, XBOX Gaming Integration (gamer tag, achievements, friends, avatars, merchandising), and social networking support. http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=2492

from engaget "Besides just flipping the script on the brand, the company seems to be taking a much more vertical approach with hardware and user experience, dictating rigid specs for 7 Series devices (a specific CPU and speed, screen aspect ratio and resolution, memory, and even button configuration), and doing away with carrier or partner UI customizations such as Sense or TouchWiz. That's right -- there will be a single Windows Phone identity regardless of carrier or device brand. Those new phones will likely look similar at first, featuring a high res touchscreen, three front-facing buttons (back, start, and perhaps not shockingly, a Bing key), and little else."http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/15/wind ... laying-to/

The xperia is back.. with win 6.1 on... now i know why i want android!! Had to installed xperiatweak just to tell the system how i want it to work! ie manage messages into folders, not have them conversation style!

living with windows mobile 6.1 today. eugh! tried flashing to 6.5, but wont have it... and this is really annoying me! granted its an older phone now. But had to install a program to tweak all the xperia stuff! And i still cant make it do what i want! i dont want a text preview!! I want to customise the text message alerts!!! RAWR!!!